Mowing attachment for tractors



May 1s 1926.

R. a J1-WELL vMOWINCT ATTACHMENT FOR `TBG'I'ORS May 18 1926. 1,584,798

R. s. QTWELL.

MOWING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed July 25 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED sra RALPH TES 'PATENT OFFICE.;

B. OTWELL, OF :DETROIT: MICHIGAN, ASSiIGNOR T0 DETILB'OIT vHAItV-IES'I IER COMPANY, OF DETROIT, -MICHIGANQ A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

MowINGn'r'rAcHMnNT ron 'raac'rons.

appiication inea July 23, 1925. serial N9.' 45,676.-

My invention relates to a mowing attachment for tractors, shown in the accompanyi January January 9, 1924, while the simplicity of oping drawings and' more particularly described in the following specification and claims. h

The primary ob]ect oftheV present invention is to provide a simple-*and inexpensive.

mowing attachment for 'tractors-the Aconstruction cost of which is materially less than that of the devices shown and'described in my former .Patents No. 1,443,161, dated so, 1923, and No. 1,518,161, dated eration iseven greater.,-

Y transmission ca se and-the the tractor, which comprises a housing-en- A further VobJect et the present invention is to rovide a device which'may be quickly insta led and removed from the tractor without altering the construction of the latter.

With this and -other objects in' view a unit isinterposedA between the end of the closing a crankarm to be secured to the end squared end projecting thehousing-its louter end being fitted with a and a pitman rod. I connecting'the crank and rocker arms-in o four` retaining bolts of .the Worm'shaft of the tractora rocker arm mounted on a' stub shaft1 having a beyond the -wall of slidable divided sleeve,

erative relation. To install this unit t e draw bar cap is first removed from, the endl ofv the transmission case together with its the latterl being replaced by four relatively longer bolts .designed to extend throughthe manently attached tov the tractor, as the operation o the latter will not be affected' thereby when'the mowing unit is'- discon- -nected from the tractor. f y. It will thus be seen that. a further object of the present invention is to minimize the labor and time required to install or remove the mowing attachment.

i. A rock shaft for actuating the cutter barj of the mowin unit is either coupled or released Vfrom rivingy relation with thestub shaft by shifting. a divided sleeve slidable upon 'the abutting endsv of the respectivev shafts that it may be engaged or discondraw bar cap ofv draw bar cap--the housv ing for the crank and rocker arms and into the wall of the transmission case of the trac- Y torthese several parts may remain pernected from the squared portions ofthe shafts-in order that a driving connection or not may be obtained between the shafts as required.

Witlrthe foregoing and other objects in View vwhich will appear as the description' proceeds the invention' furtherl resides in the combination and `arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understoodthat change's'may be made in the 'preoise. embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without-departingfrom the spirit of the saine.

In the'drawi'ngs accompanying this speci` (ication: l 4

Figure 1 is a plan view of the mowing unit attached to atractor, indicated in dotted lines-'a fragmentl of the cutter bar only bep ing shown.

Figure 21s a side elevation of the device attached to the tractorf-indicated in dotted lines. y

attached to the tractor shown in dotted ever being indicated in full' lines.

vFigure 4 is 'a horizontal sectional` VView c 75- Figure 3 1s a rear elevation` of the devicev .lines-the draw lbar cap ofthe tractorliowtaken on or about-line 4--4 of Figure 3 showing a fragment 'of the tractor transmission case.l

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View through the housing for the crankand rocker arm and connecting pitman-taken on or about line 5-5 of ,Figure 4. v

Figure 6 is an end elevation of 'the couplin sleeve connecting the stub shaft of the 7 is a cross-sectionalview through .about line p housing-z C the usual worm transmission shaft and D the rear thrust bearing for the shaft supported in the end of the transmission housing.4 n E indicates the draw bar plate ordinarily attached directly to the transmission housin but in the :present embodiment a housing 45 case.

is interposed between it and the transmission housing-the parts being secured to the transmisison housing by plurality of relatively longer bolts G. in place of those usually 5 em loyed.

he housing F encloses-a crank arm H screwed or otherwise secured on the end of the worm transmission shaft.

I represents a nut on the end of the shaft to further secure the crank arm in position.

J designates a pitman connecting the crank arm H with a rocker arm K, mounted on a stub shaft L, journalled in the housing F between the draw bar cap and transmis- 15 sion caseor housing.

The stub shaft L extends through the Wall of the housing and is squared at its outer end as indicated at LIl to receive a slidable divided sleeve M adapted to embrace the 2U shaft and to couple the same with a rock shaft N-which is also provided with a squared end.

The socket in the slidable sleeve is squared-see m, Figure 7-for a portion of its length to conform to the squared or rectangular ends of the stub and rock shafts that a driving connection between the two shafts may be had when the bolts M connecting the divided portion of the sleeve are adjusted to cause the squared socket of the sleeve to grip the squared ends of the shafts. The remaining portion of the vsocket however is circular in cross section-as indi.- cat-ed at ml-so that when the sleeve is slidably adjusted upon the aligned shafts, as

indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, the circular portion of the socket will register with the squared portion L of the stub 'shaft permitting the latter to turn in the 40 socket thus releasing the rock shaft N from operative connection with the stub shaft.

The rock shaft N is journalled at its for- Ward end in a bearing P bolted to fianges joining the transmission'housing and crank At the end of the'shaft N is a rocker *arm Q connected by a link R to the cutter bar S of a harvester unit T of usual construction.

Pivotally connected with the shoe Ta of Athe harvester unit is a bracket arm U in turn pivoted to a lug A* depending from the underside of the body of the tractor. U denotes a rod connected with the bracket arm U having a spring intermediate of itsl endsthe upper end of the rod extending throuo'h the arm of a bracket fixture V, bolted to t e body of the tractor. A'nut Vc is screwed upon the end of the rod for adjusting the tension of the spring-the purpose of the' rod and spring being to yieldingly support and counterbalance the weight of the bracket arm and other connecting parts.

W indicates a rod connected at one end with the bracket arm vU supporting the mower--and extending therefrom at an angle to a lug Fa (through which it is free to move) projecting from the underside of the housing F.

The rod lV is fittcd'with a spring lV* secured thereto, which bearing against the lug Fa provides a vicldable connection between the parts and thus relieves the cutter bar of shocks occasionedby the latter encountering stones or other obstructions.

The point of intersection between the rod lV and the lug F, and the pivotal connection between the bracket arm U and the lug A is in line with the longitudinal axis of the tractor and co-incident with its center of oscillation-the rod lV and bracket arm U thus communicate all drafts to the medial longitudinal axis of the tractor and are adjustable to carry the mowing unit in any desired position.

Y represents a manually operated bell crank lever pivoted at Yil to a sector P* forming an integral part of the bearing P-the lever Y is provided with the usual spring actuated dognot shown-for engaging the notches of the sector and a handle connected therewith for releasing the og. b indicates a link connecting the bellcrank lever with the bracket arm U, :whereby upon manually actuating the lever Y the cutter unit may be raised to ride over stones or other like obstructions.

To' tilt the mowing unit to the osition shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, t 1e bolts M connecting the divided portions of the sleeve M are first released, the sleeve being now free to slide upon the shafts it is shifted-as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4-so that the circular ortion of the sleeve socket may register Wit the squared end of the stub shaft-the object being to permit the squared end of the stub shaft to rotate freely within the circular portion of the sleeve socketthe rock shaft being released from driving connection with the stub shaft When it is desired to remove the mowing unit from the tractor the bolts M which force the sleeve M to grip the squared ends of the shafts L and N are releasedthe bearing P for the shaft N is then detached from the tractor body and the pivotal bolt connecting the bracket arm U with the lug A removed-the mowing unit having been thus detached from the tractor, the latter may be employed for other purposes, it being un necessary to remove or disconnect the heus ing F from the tractor.

To operate the mower the tractor motor is started .in the usual manner whereupon the crank arm H attached to the worm shaft C actuates the rocker arm K carried by the stub shaft L, which coupled to t-he rock shaft N reciprocates the cutter` bar of the mowing unit.

j I wish to particularly stress the fact that l the crank arm attached to the worm shaft of the tractor is the only rotating element employed and also that its entire radial load connecting said rock shaft with the crank arm; a mowing unit including al cutter bar;

and means connecting the rock shaft with the cutter bar for reciprocating theatter.

2.' In combination with-a tractor includ ing its worm drive shaft and transiniioii housing; a crank arm secured to the worin driving shaft; a housing for the crank arm -bolted to the transmission housing; a rock shaft journalled in the crank arm housing;

a pitman connecting t-he rock shaft with the crank arm; a detachable mowing unit including a cutter har; and means connecting the rock shaft with thecutter bar, whereby the cutter bar may be reciprocated.

3, In combination with a tractor including its worm drive shaft, transmission housing and draw bar cap; a crank arm secured to the drive shaft; a housing for the crank arm interposed between the transmission housing and draw bar cap; a rock shaft journalled in the crank arm housing; a pitman connecting said rock shaft with the crank arm; a mowing unit including a cutter bar; means pivoted to the tractor and to tlie mowing unit for supporting the latter; a thrust bar connected to said last'nained means extending rearwardly from the latter loosely through a lug depending from the crank case housing; a. springl carried by said bar adapted to bear against said lug, whereby shocks due to the cutter bar en-4 countering obstructions may be absorbed by the spring and a. manually operated bell xcrankleveradapted to raise said mowing v unit.

4. In combination `with a tractor including its worm drive shaft and transmission' housing; a crank arm secured to the worm drive shaft; a housing for the crank shaft bolted to the transmission housing; a vstub "shaft journalled in t-he crank case housing fitted with 'a rocker arm and having a 'squared end projecting beyond the wall of squared end of theA stub shaft; adjustable means for coupling said shafts together in voperative relation; a mowing unit; means for supporting said mowing unitfrom the tractor body; and means connect-ing the rock shaft with the cutter bar of the mowing unit, 'whereby the latter may be reciprocated.

5. In combination with a tractor including its worin drive shaft and transmission housing; a crank arm secured to the.worin drive shaft; a housing for the crank snaft bolted to the transmission housing; a stub shaft journalled in lthe crank case housing tted with a rocker arm and-having a squared end projecting beyond the wall of the latter; a pitman connecting the rocke'r arm with the crank arm; a rock shaft journalled in alignment with the stub shaft, its abutting end squared to conform to the squared end of the stub shaft; a divided sleeve having a socket squared for a portion of its length adapted to couple the squared ends'of the rock and stub shafts together, the remaining portion of said socket being circular in cross-section, whereby upon shifting the sleeve the shafts may be released from driving connection; bolts extending through the divided portion of the sleeve adapted when adjusted to cause thesleeve to grip the ends of the respective shafts; a mowing unit; means for supporting said mowing unit from the tractor body;

and means connecting the rock shaft with thel cutter bar o f the mowing unit, whereby the latter may be reciprocated.

6. In combination with a tractor including its Worin drive shaft and transmission housing; a crank arm secured to the drive shaft; a housing for the crank arm bolted to the transmission housing; a rockshaft; a pitman connecting said -rock shaft with the crank arm; a mowing unit, Asupporting means for the mowing unit pivoted tothe latter and to the tractor along substantially the medial longitudinal plane of the tractor; a bar fitted with a spring connected with said supporting means and adjustably connected to a bracket secured to the body of the tractor, whereby the weight-of the mower unit may he counterbalanced .in va measure; a thrust har connected with said supporting unit extending rearwardly` and loosely through a lug depending from the crank housing; a spring tted lon said rod adapted to bear upon said lug, whereby shocks resulting from the cutter bar contacting with obstructions are absorbed, and means for maiiually raisin the mowing unit.

7. In com ination with a tractor including its worm shaft and transmission housing; a crank arm secured tothe worm shaft of the tractor; a housing for the crank arm bolted 1G arm 'extending rearwardly at an angle ter bar with the rock shaft; a supporting arm pvoted to the mower unit and to the tractor along substantially the medial longitudinal vertical plane thereof, a rod secured 5, to said supporting arm and to a fixture secured t0 the tractor; a spring connected with the rod adapted toyieldingly support and substantially counterbalance vthe lweight of the arm; a thrust bar connezted with the tion.

- RALPH B. OTWELL. 

